Salina, Kan. – Cheryl Brown Henderson, who has worked tirelessly for the past two decades to honor her father, the late Rev. Oliver Brown, and his work in the landmark case, Brown v. Board of Education, will speak at Kansas Wesleyan as part of the Intersections Lecture Series on Tuesday, February 11.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the historic ruling that led to the integration of schools. Brown will share the impact the ruling has had on the country, stories from those on the front lines of the struggle, and the role that Kansas played in segregation. The case was named for her father, who aligned with 12 other parents to file the suit on behalf of their children against the local board of education. Their case was joined by segregation fights in Delaware, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., and on May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court ruled segregation in schools unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Brown Henderson founded The Brown Foundation for Educational Equity, Excellence and Research, and is also the owner of Brown & Associates, an educational consulting firm. The foundation provides scholarships to minority students, has established libraries in low-income neighborhoods, developed curriculum, sponsored exhibits, and more. Brown Henderson has also been published on numerous occasions, including in the Kansas City Star, The Washburn Law Journal, and the College Board Review. Her many accolades include being named “Kansan of the Year” by the Topeka Capital Journal in 2004, induction into the Mid-American Education Hall of Fame, and achieving the National Education Association’s “Friend of Education” Award.
Brown Henderson’s presentation is the second installment in the Intersections Series and was brought to the university in partnership with the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. She will speak at 7 p.m. in Sams Chapel. On March 27, Dr. Rebecca Chopp will speak as part of Women in History Month. Dr. Chopp is a graduate of Kansas Wesleyan University and is currently the president of Swarthmore College. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Paula Hermann at paula.hermann@kwu.edu.